The Royal Stewart tartan is the best known tartan of the royal House of Stewart, and is also the personal tartan of Queen Elizabeth II. It is appropriate for all subjects of Elizabeth II to wear the Royal Stewart tartan,[1] in much the same way that clansmen may wear the tartan of their clan chief. Officially, the tartan is worn by the pipers of the The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, and the Scots Guards, as well as a select few civilian groups. The 5th Bolton Scout Group and the 5th Potters Bar Scout Group wear the scarf, (neckerchief/necker) officially, with permission from the Queen, and the Queen's Bands (of Queen's University) wear the tartan as part of their official uniforms. So too do the Winnipeg Police Pipe Band. The tartan may also be worn by members who took part in a patrol leaders training course.

In the late 1970s the Royal Stewart tartan became popular in punk fashion. The tartan had also become well known in motor racing circles a decade earlier, as three-time Formula One World Champion Jackie Stewart used a distinctive band of Royal Stewart tartan around his crash helmet.[1]